Piano-violin



No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. P. KEMPER.

PIANO VIOLIN.

Paten ted Oct. 4, 1881.

[WW/ 101 m 2& r M

(No Model.)

Patented Oct. 4,1881.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

J. F. KEMPER.

PIANO VIOLIN.

(No Model.)

Patented Oct. 4,1881.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES F. KEMPER, OF HARRISONBURG, VIRGINIA.

PIANO-VIOLIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 247,924, dated October 4, 1881,

Application filed September 17, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom tt may concern Be it known that I, JAMES FOLEY KEMPER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Harrisonburg, in the county of Rockingham and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Violin-Pianos;

and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in violin-pianos, or that class of instruments comprising the piano strings and action with attachmentforproducingsoundsh'avingthecharacteristics of the violin tones; and it consists in applying a number of endless and upwardly converging band-bows passed over revolving tension-pulleys to an ordinary piano in such manner thattheypassbetween the strings ofthe piano without touchingthem,and a number of operating-levers set in motion by means of the piano mechanism, whereby the band-bows are deflected from their normal positions and brought in contact with the strings, thus producing the sounds or note corresponding to the depressed key.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a partof a piano to which my violin mechanism is attached, the hammers not being shown in order to better expose the violin mechanism to view. Fig. 2 isadetailed perspective view of two strings and their operating mechanism on a larger scale. Fig. 3 is a detailed view of an endless band-bow, its tension-rollers, and deflecting-fingers. Fig. 4 is a modified construction of my invention, shown in perspective. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the mechanism operating the band-bows. Fig. 6 is a detail view of a piano-key and its damper and connections with the band-bow. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a stop whereby the hammer mechanism of the piano may be rendered inoperative. Fig. 8 is a perspective view "of another modified construction of my violin mechanism. Fig. 9 is an enlarged dc tail view of a piano-key with my violin mecl1- anism. Fig. 10 is a modification of the same.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A represents an ordinary key-board of apiano; B, the strings; a,piano-keys, and b tuning-pins. In practice an ordinary sound-board will be employed.

The keys to move on ordinary fulcrums, a, and are at the rear provided with fulcrumstands c which, by means of fulcrum-pins 0, support each a lever, O. The front ends of these levers C are suitably pivoted to atransverse bar, c,t'astened to thekey-board, and the rear ends of said levers are provided with anti-friction rollers 0 which extend nearly to the bridge 1). Below the bridge b a number of pulleys, D, are hung between the rear part of the piano and a suitable bearing-bar, d, and above said bridge an elevated double bearingbar, d, is attached in a suitable manner tothe frame of the instrument. This bur supports a number of comparatively small tension-rollers, E, by means of suitable spring-bearings, e, vertically above the pulleys D. Each pairot' ten sion-rollers is provided with an endless bandbow, e, of a materialqualificd to do the same service as the hand-bow ot' a violin. seen that the rollers E are of less diameter than the lower rollers, D, sothat the opposite sides of the endless baud-bow e converge upwardly toward each other. The inclined sides of these bnnd'bows pass between the strings B, so that there is one stringat eachouterside ot' the band-bow and in close proximity to the same, but not close enough to be sounded when the band-bow is in its normal position. The ends of the lever O are located on the inner sides of the band-bow in such manner that when the levers are raised by depressing the keys a they will strike and deflect the bandbow toward the string near by, and thus produce the sound of a violin or Violoncello.

The pulleys D are provided with cranks 6?, which are coupled by a horizontal crank-bar, 61 and to this crank-bar the connecting-rod f of an ordinary treadle-motion is attached, so that by operating the treadle all the band-bows e are revolved.

The crank-bar 01. may be operated by two connecting-rods, one at each end, and they will then be connected with the arms of a rock-shaft on the under side of theinstrument, which rock- It will be shaft is operated by a treadle or foot power. Other suitable devices may be adopted to so cure a perfect and well operating connection between the crank-bar and a footpower. In case the bridge I) is curved the crankbar (i will be divided into several smaller crank-bars, each attached to a separate treadle or footpower, or to a suitable coupling of one footpower.

The crank-motion may be substituted by pulleys and a cord, as shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6. Each pulley D is, outside the bar (I, provided with a cord-pulley, d, over which a cord, (1 is passed. This cord passes through the bottom of the piano over a guide-pulley, d, and over the drivingpulley g of a tly-wheel, (l, of an ordinary foot-power.

Instead of levers 0, other deflecting devices may be used, one of which I have illustrated in Figs. 4 and 6. I11 this device I provide the damper-rods of the piano with suitable extensions, g, which are provided with the do fleeting-rollers c and the ends of which are located below the ends of the damper-levers I, as seen in Fig. 6. The deflecting-rollers c are in this construction above the strings B, which, however, does not alt'ect or change the principle of my invention.

If a violin solo is desired of my instrument, I use a check for making the piano-hammer mechanism inoperative. This check consists of a transverse rod, J, fastened to the arms j of a rock-shaft, 7", hung in front of the liftingjacks a of the piano. By means of an &I1lll,j and connecting-rod j", in imitation of an organstop draw, the said check may be operated at the front of the piano. When the rod j" is pushed in the rod J holds the jacks a away from the butts a of the piano-hammers, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig.6, and the hammers are inoperative, and when the rod j is pulled out the jacks (t resume their normal position again and the hammers are again operative.

In Figs. 8, 9, and 10 I have illustrated another moditication of my violin and damper mechanisms, which is especially adapted for square pianos, in which the strings B run at an angle to the piauokeys. The band-bows will be in that case to the left of the ends of the corresponding keys, and the damper-rods, which must be placed between the inner sides of each band-bow, will have to be connected byjointed double levers K,asin Figs.S and 9,0r by back shafts, L, as in Fig. 10. In Fig.8 I have also shown how I can connect a damper-block, M, directly to the extension 9 of the damper-rod 9 In practice I will subdivide my violin mechanism and piano mechanism in sections, which can be separately made operative orinoperative by means of connecting or disconnecting stops, so that violin solos and piano accompaniments, or vice versa, may be played at any section of the key-board at pleasure.

It is obvious that when the treadles are not operated the violin-bows will be stationary and the piano mechanism alone will be operative.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination, with the keys (t,1)I0- vided with the fulcrum-stamls a, and levers (J, pivoted to thetransverse barc,and provided with rollers c of the endless converging bandbows c and strings B, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

2. Thecomhination,with the keys a,fulcrumstands (6 levers 0, having rollers 0 endless converging band-bows c, and strings B, of the pulleys I), provided with cranks (Z crank-bar d, and rod f, connecting the crank-bar with a treadle, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, with the rock-shaft j, armsj, pivoted thereto and carrying the rod T, and armj' provided with connecting-rod j, of the keys (1, lifting-jacks a, and butts a of the piano-ham mers, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination, with the keys a, provided with damper-rods having bent extensions g, and deflecting-rollers 0 of the endless converging band-bows e and dampericvers I, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES F. KEMPER.

Witnesses:

J. S. MEssERLEY, J. H. SI-IUE. 

